1 Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Sept. 19- 21, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Starting his seventh season as music director, Jaap van Zweden has the DSO playing stunningly, reliably leading performances of white-hot intensity. In the first program of the 2014-15 classical series he tackles Mahler’s last completed symphony, the deeply personal Ninth, plus Leopold Stokowski’s orchestration of Bach’s C minor Passacaglia and Fugue. Note that this is one of the season’s programs opening on a Friday night, rather than the traditional Thursday. $19-$119. 214-692-0203. mydso.com.

4 Joshua Bell, Nov. 6, Winspear Opera House, Dallas The perenially boyish Bell is one of the finest violinists on today’s concert circuit. A popular regular in Dallas, he returns for a solo recital, presented by the AT&T Performing Arts Center. $45-$100. 214-880-0202. attpac.org.

5 Stefan Engels, Nov. 22, Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, Southern Methodist University, Dallas German-born, trained both in his native country and at SMU, Stefan Engels returns to Dallas this fall in a new endowed organ professorship at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts. He makes his public debut in the new post with an all-French recital, playing Caruth Auditorium’s C.B. Fisk organ. The program includes organ concertos by Michel Corrette, with the Dallas Bach Society Orchestra led by James Richman. $13; discounts for seniors, students, SMU faculty and staff. 214-768-2787.